A list of all English tenses, including:
- the structure of each tense
- explanations of usage
- examples of common errors and how to avoid making them.
- explanations of usage
- examples of common errors and how to avoid making them.
Present tenses
- Structure of present simple
- Structure of present continuous
How to form the present simple tense in English.
Structure of present simple | ||
positive | negative | question |
I work in a bank. You work in a bank. We work in a bank. They work in a bank. | I don't (do not) work. You don't (do not) work. We don't (do not) work. They don't (do not) work. | Do I work in a bank? Do you work in a bank? Do we work in a bank? Do they work in a bank? |
He works in a bank. She works in a bank. The bank opens at 9 o'clock. | He doesn't (does not) work. She doesn't (does not) work. It doesn't (does not) open at 9 o'clock. | Does he work? Does she work? Does it open at 9 o'clock? |
Present simple - common mistakes | ||
Common mistakes | Correct version | Why? |
I work in London. | The gerund ing form is not used in the present simple. | |
He works in London. | The third person he, she, it adds the letter s. | |
Does he work in London? | Questions - third person: does + subject + infinitive. All other persons: do + subject + infinitive. | |
Does he work in London? | ||
He doesn't work in London. | Negatives - third person: subject + doesn't + infinitive. All other persons: subject + don't + infinitive. |
The present continuous tense is sometimes called the present progressive.
Here is how to form the present continuous tense in English.
Structure of present continuous | ||
positive | negative | question |
I'm (I am) reading a book. You're (you are) reading. We're (we are) reading. They're (they are) reading. | I'm (I am) not reading. You're (you are) not reading. We're (we are) not reading. They're (they are) not reading. | Am I reading? Are you reading? Are we reading? Are they reading? |
He's (he is) reading a book. She's (she is) reading a book. It's (it is) raining. | He's not / he isn't (he is not) reading. She's not / she isn't (she is not) reading. It's not / it isn't (it is not) raining. | Is he reading? Is she reading? Is it raining? |
Present continuous - common mistakes | ||
Common mistakes | Correct version | Why? |
They are still waiting for you. | to form a continuous tense we use be + -ing. | |
Are they still waiting for you? | In questions the subject (they) and the auxiliary verb (be) change places. | |
Are they still waiting for you? | ||
Where are they waiting for you? | ||
She isn't watching TV. | To form the negative we put not after the verb be (am not, is not = isn't, are not = aren't). | |
I believe you. | Some verbs are not used in continuous tenses - these are called stative verbs (e.g. believe, come from, cost, depend, exist, feel, hate, like). |
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